SUBTALAR ARTHRODESIS FOR STABILIZATION OF VALGUS HINDFOOT IN PATIENTSWITH CEREBRAL-PALSY

All patients with spastic cerebral palsy who underwent correction of v algus hindfoot by Grice extraarticular subtalar arthrodesis between 19 71 and 1986 performed by two surgeons using an identical technique wer e reviewed. Twenty-nine patients (53 feet) were followed at an average of 8.9 years after operation. Traditional radiographic criteria for m easurement of hindfoot alignment in skeletally mature individuals have poor reliability. Talar head uncovering is a useful and reproducible method for evaluation of hindfoot valgus in these patients. Five patie nts had progressive hindfoot or ankle deformity at latest follow-up. A ll five of these patients were spastic quadriplegics. There was no rec urrence in the 17 patients who were less severely involved than the qu adriplegic patients.